(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The Council on Postsecondary Education will temporarily terminate the search for a new president and appoint an interim president to serve through April 2008.

At a meeting in Lexington today, the search committee authorized Council chair John Turner and two Council members, Walter Baker and Dan Flanagan, to identify a candidate for interim president and bring a recommendation to the Council or the Council’s Executive Committee.

In other business, the Council:

Swore in three new members. Virginia G. Fox, Joseph S. Weis and Dr. Suvas G. Desai were appointed by Governor Fletcher last week to serve on the Council. Fox replaces Joan Taylor, of Lexington and will serve on the Council until December 31, 2012. Desai replaces recently resigned member Susan S. Guess, of Paducah, and will serve the remainder of the unexpired term until December 31, 2007. Joseph S. Weis replaces Bonita K. Black of Crestwood, and will serve on the Council until December 31, 2011. Additionally, Ryan Quarles, of Georgetown, was reappointed as the student representative to the Council.

Approved a review process and evaluation criteria for the creation of new Ed.D. programs or initiatives to redesign current doctoral programs at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. Reviewed a draft of the 2020 Double the Numbers Plan, a long-term finance plan outlining the investment and outcomes needed to lift Kentucky to the national average on a number of educational and economic indicators. The Council also reviewed the framework for the Council’s 2008 – 10 budget request, which has been altered this year to improve the transparency and clarity of the recommendation. Council staff is meeting with institutional representatives over the next few months to refine the Double the Numbers Plan and the budget request. Final Council action for the 2008 – 10 budget request is scheduled for November.

Heard an update on the 2006 – 08 college access initiative. The outreach initiative seeks to provide streamlined and relevant college-going information to traditionally underserved Kentuckians. The campaign will target returning adult students, at-risk middle and high school students, potential transfer students, potential GED students and GED graduates. In addition to the $800,000 funded by the General Assembly for this effort, the Council has leveraged over $1 million to date in additional funding through grants and partnerships.

Approved its 2007 – 08 agency operating budget

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Kentucky’s postsecondary and adult education system is improving the economic vitality of the Commonwealth and the lives of Kentuckians. By raising educational attainment to the national average by 2020, Kentucky will attract higher wage and knowledge-based business and industry and the overall quality of life for Kentuckians will improve with higher incomes and levels of employment, better health, less obesity, more volunteerism, and lower crime and public assistance rates.